Any labor law experts out there?

[screembloodymurder]

My son's employer has a new policy on sick days. They require two days notice or the sick day is unexcused and four unexcused absences result in automatic termination. Is this legal? How can they demand notice for an illness?

[The Whiskey Priest]

1. Unless it is a Union Shop

The terms of employment are defined by the employer. Im not an attorney, but that is my understanding of labor law.

[Ikonoklast]

2. Huh??

What if you were in a an accident?

"I need Wednesday off as I plan on getting hit by a car as I wait for the bus that morning."


Those people are not living in the reality based world. They need you to predict the future.

Sounds like it's job-hunting time.

[durablend]

3. Count on it to become the norm

Better learn the words to "I sold my soul to the company store"

[Nikia]

4. I don't know if there is a federal policy on this

During a summer job in college, during a high unemployment time in the local economy, the woman who I worked with told me about her husband being fired. The company fired anyone who had an unexcused absence. For an absence to be excused for illness, a doctor's note was required. He didn't really understand the policy, ended up not going to the doctor because they didn't have health insurance, and lost his job as a result.
The company where I work iniates disciplinary procedures after 8 absences. If you miss multiple consecutive days and have a doctor's excuse, that counts as only one absence. If you are having a chronic problem, you are encouraged to take medical leave.
I would have your son ask if there is an exception for doctor's excused illnesses and if consecutive days missed counts for one absence. I might understand if that policy was for doctor's appointments for non urgent issues or for missed days due to non emergency medical tests and surgeries.

[screembloodymurder]

5. I will have him check again, but

my understanding (and his) is that an excuse is also required. To me, it's absurd for an employer to expect someone to know they're going to be sick in advance. I think the company will end up paying more in training and turnover costs, end up with an inexperienced work force and wind up with unhappy workers (or a union) and fewer customers.